[Wigsat-l] UNGAID ediscussion

[Sophia Huyer]

The United Nations Global Alliance for ICTs and Development (GAID) has  
invited the global gonline community to help it determine its themes  
for the coming year, with gender being one of the suggestions (the  
others are poverty eradication and financial crisis, climate change  
and education and health), with the purpose of aligning "itself more  
closely with the broader UN Development Agenda and addressing the  
critical issues that the world is currently facing." To do this, GAID  
has set up four separate discussion groups, with the one on gender  
located at   http://un-gaid.ning.com/forum/topics/gender-1 The overall  
purpose of the discussions is to '''identify ideas and suggestions on  
how GAID can contribute with clear deliverables  to progress on these  
issues, using ICT."

To my mind, this means how ICTs can help bring gender equity and meet  
the Millennium Development goals. In a way, the discussions are a sort  
of vote (although this is unsaid), with the one attracting the most  
interest standing the best chance of being accepted as a theme for  
GAID activities.

If you are not familiar with GAID (www.un-gaid.org), It is a UN global  
forum, open to all,  to address cross-cutting issues related to ICT in  
development. [And gender is certainly an issue that cuts across many  
aspects of ICT in development].  GAID's aim is to broaden the dialogue  
on innovative ways of harnessing ICT for development, on the basis  
that "a people-centered and knowledge-based information society is  
essential for achieving better life for all." I have listed below  
GAID's specific objectives. GAID's modes of operation include forums,  
consultations, meetings, blogs, publications, a web portal and the  
organization of networks, among others.

The discussion will continue till May third week. At its conclusion  
the two Communities of Expertise on gender within GAID- The  
International Task Force on Women and ICT and Gender, Development and  
Information Society Policies (GDISP) will synthesize the results of  
the discussion for presentation to the GAID Strategy Council meeting  
taking place in Monterrey, Mexico the second week of June.

I am requesting you to visit the discussion site and contribute to it,  
on a regular basis if you can. Our charge is to suggest ways that GAID  
could advance gender equity using ICT
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -
GAID Objectives

The Alliance will seek to contribute to:

Mainstreaming of the global ICT agenda into the broader United Nations  
development agenda
Bringing together key organizations involved in ICT for development  
(ICT4D) to enhance their collaboration and effectiveness for achieving  
the internationally agreed development goals
Raising awareness of policy makers on ICT4D policy issues;
Facilitating identification of technological solutions for specific  
development goals and pertinent partnerships
Creating an enabling environment and innovative business models for  
pro-poor investment and growth and for empowering people living in  
poverty
Acting as a "think-tank" on ICT4D-related issues and as an advisory  
group to the Secretary-General.

Thank you

anita



  anita gurumurthy
IT for Change
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
(In Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and  
Social Council)
www.ITforChange.net
www.IS-Watch.net
http://India.IS-Watch.net
Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890
Fax:+91-80-4146 1055

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